Lightweight contenders want to put on good show

Guida and Pettis hope winner will get UFC title shot

June 02, 2011|By Matt Erickson, Special to the Tribune

LAS VEGAS — It's not often a bout christened a "Fight of the Year" candidate before it even takes place lives up to the hype.

But with Saturday's UFC lightweight contenders fight between Clay Guida and Anthony Pettis, there's a good chance the buildup will have a nice payoff — though neither is putting that kind of pressure on himself.

"I don't think we think about that — at least I don't," Guida said Thursday. "We'll have a good time out there in the cage and put on a show for the fans, and everything else just falls into place. Getting my hand raised is paramount."

Guida (28-11, 8-5 UFC) is a native of Johnsburg who cut his teeth on the Chicago-area mixed martial arts scene, working at Midwest Training Center in Schaumburg and Gilbert Grappling in Tinley Park before moving to Albuquerque, N.M., to train at the elite Greg Jackson camp. He long has been considered one of the sport's most exciting fighters, win or lose.

With four UFC fight night bonuses in his last six bouts, including three straight submission victories, Guida is in the midst of the biggest tear of his UFC career. A victory over Pettis could get him the title shot he has been within reach of in the past, but has fallen just short.

"I think a dominating victory will definitely look better in the eyes of (UFC president) Dana White, (UFC matchmaker) Joe Silva and the UFC," Guida said. "But the most Anthony and I can do is go out and put on a great show, which I know is exactly what we're going to do."

Pettis (13-1, 0-0 UFC), of Milwaukee, was the last World Extreme Cagefighting lightweight champion before the UFC merged the two promotions. He achieved overnight superhero status in December when he leaped in the air and propelled himself off the cage with his right foot, then used the same foot to deliver a roundhouse kick to Ben Henderson's head. A few minutes later, he had Henderson's belt around his waist.

He was scheduled to face the winner of January's UFC lightweight title fight between champion Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard. But when that fight ended in a draw and a rematch was ordered, Pettis had to choose between waiting for the title shot or staying busy. He chose the latter, and the UFC didn't exactly throw him a bone with Guida.

"I'm not really looking past Clay right now," Pettis said. "If I win this Clay fight, who knows what's going to happen. I thought after I won against Henderson I was going to get a title shot, but that didn't work. So I'm going to stay ready and whoever they throw at me next, I'll be ready to fight them as well."